Delays extend into evening on Milwaukee District-West and North Central lines

February 03, 2012|Staff report

Crews at the scene of a train derailment near the intersection of Grand and Cicero Avenues in Chicago this morning. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Delays continued on Metra's Milwaukee District-West and North Central lines during the evening rush after a freight train derailed on the Northwest Side earlier today.

Even though crews were able to open one track within an hour, two trains have been cancelled and commuters were being warned about delays of up to 20 minutes. Metra spokeswoman Meg Reile said crews were still working to remove the derailed cars and fixing damaged track.

“We feel we will get everyone home but there may be delays of 10 to 20 minutes,’’ Reile said.

Reile said there were “a significant number of schedule changes’’ on the line for the evening rush urged riders to check their train numbers to make sure they are getting on the right train. “The big thing is that people pay attention,'' Reile said.

A Canadian Pacific freight train coming off a belt railway near Cicero and Grand avenues derailed shortly before 9 a.m. One of three mainline tracks was reopened about 9:40 a.m.

Seven cars on the 77-car freight train were affected by the derailment, said Ed Greenberg, a spokesman for Canadian Pacific. Two of the cars, one empty and one carrying paper, fell onto their sides and five remained upright, he said.

The train was headed west from the belt railway when it derailed, said Greenberg, who added that a cause has not yet been determined.